Colchicine, used for 100 years to treat gout, looks like it works on Covid. Cheap. Available.

[applegrove]

Last edited Sun Jan 24, 2021, 04:45 PM - Edit history (1)

Tested. Covid deaths down by 44%. It is in pharmacies everywhere. Use it early in the process of a active covid illness. Keeps people out of hospitals. Keeps people off ventilators. Must be used carefully as it can be toxic. Early days yet. CTV News

Here is a link to the same story different source:

https://www.icm-mhi.org/en/pressroom/news/colchicine-reduces-risk-covid-19-related-complications

[SlogginThroughIt]

1. Hmmm gonna need some more reassurances.

[applegrove]

2. It has not been published yet. They studied it in trials around the world. N/T

[Irish_Dem]

3. If it can stop the cytokine storm, this will be quite promising.

The study seems to be well done, with a very large subject pool.
Will need to be replicated by other researchers however.

[applegrove]

4. I am so relieved.

[wishstar]

5. Great to know esp. since I filled a prescription of it in case spouse gets gout again

Spouse got gout a year ago and colchicine helped tremendously, but gout hasn't recurred due to eliminating alchohol and limiting processed meats, etc. but kept bottle of pills just in case it flares again. Spouse got first covid vaccine yesterday but don't know when I can get signed up, so its great to know about the colchicine.

As far as nonprescription meds that have been found to help with Covid immune response, our doctor advises us to keep up our Vit D levels up and liberally use Pepcid AC containing famotidine as well as melatonin to help with sleep. Also spouse has blood clotting disorder already so must keep on strict regimen of blood thinner and I take baby aspirin several days a week.

[applegrove]

8. The colchicine does have side effects and can hurt kidneys and liver

so i would not take it unless your doctor reccommends it. Still needs to be published and peer reviewed and all that. More studies will be needed. But it is a great relief.

[applegrove]

17. Dosing is tricky and side effects could be deadly if it hurts your liver.

Here is what someone else posted on dosing.

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/colchicine-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20067653

[Laffy Kat]

31. I've read several studies about vitamin D in both the treatment...

And prevention of covid. I've been taking 1000 IU three times a week. It certainly can't hurt, especially since I get so little sunshine working 10:15 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Most to us need more vit D anyway.

[mitch96]

36. I don't remember where I saw it and Fauci takes 5000 IU/day. nt

[Turin_C3PO]

37. If you want, you can safely take 5000 iu daily.

That’s what my doctor recommended to me at least.

[GoneOffShore]

34. Was on colchicine for a short time for gout. Am now on allopurinol.

[dalton99a]

6. How the trial was conducted:

https://www.colcorona.net/

https://www.colcorona.net/faq

[edhopper]

7. Poppycock!

Bill Maher says I just need a better diet.

[nolabear]

23. I'd like to slap that man upside the head.

He’s always irritated me but at one time he seemed to have some redeeming qualities. Now? Nope.

[SergeStorms]

24. He's like a newly reformed smoker.

I've noticed many people who've just quit smoking are unbearable with their pontificating about other smokers. Maher's been this way the past year or so about diet. He probably hired an expensive nutritionist to break him from a lifetime of bad habits, and now he's on a personal crusade.

[applegrove]

35. He's been a very healthy diet person for a long, long time. As an obese person i accept his

information. My life is on the line. I should diet. I am sort of starting one now. I need to be reminded. Better chance that it might sink in.

That being said i really did not agree with him agreeing with the libertarian on last Friday's show. Yikes!!

[SunSeeker]

30. Yup, he went on a woo rant Friday night about Covid deaths being caused by junk food.

He has lost his fucking mind.

[RockRaven]

9. The 3 key words from that press release: "approached statistical significance"

That term was used in reference to an outcome from the total study population.

Then they switch to discussing the study sub-population with positive PCR swabs and declare statistical significance for various outcomes.

That smells of data dredging. One would need to look beyond the press release to know more. I think checking on this study's pre-registration would be informative. And then obviously the published paper, when it is published.

Just be careful. This may go the way of hydroxychloroquine, or it may change the game. Historically the odds favor the former.

[applegrove]

10. Thanks for your knowledge and caution.

[Denzil_DC]

11. From quick reading around, this requires a lot of caution.

It may be able to dampen down a cytokine storm, but in doing so it depresses the immune system, increasing the risk of pneumonia etc.

Its toxicity levels are also a bit too close to dosage levels for comfort.

It's only available on prescription in most countries anyway.

It's as well to be wary of yet another wonder drug. It could be helpful combined with other therapies.

[applegrove]

12. Thanks. I will adjust my enthusiasm.

[Denzil_DC]

15. Vitamin D supplements seem to be the safest widely available prophylactic at the moment

Here in Scotland, they've been distributed free to at-risk groups. Must remember to take some myself.

[applegrove]

16. Yes i take a multivitamin. I've also heard zinc lozenges help. I take those

whenever i come down with something.

[AllyCat]

25. The studies are showing you need more than the D in a multivitamin

5000-10000IU per day. It is a pro-vitamin but according to my doctor, should be safe. We did a blood test just in case. After 3 months of that dosage I was in the middle of the range. I’m outside all the time so this tells me I was likely quite deficient when I started. Didn’t get tested then however.

[applegrove]

28. I will take more vitamin D.

[AllyCat]

38. Harvard health

Harvard health and a couple other places recommend up to 4000 IU just to maintain bone health. The current 400 IU standard is to prevent rickets. Just take what you must to get your blood level up and maintain. But check with your doctor.

[Laffy Kat]

32. Reading this, I think I'll up my dosage of D to 1000 IU/day...

Instead of 1000 IU three times a week.

[roamer65]

20. Scottish independence soon?

First Minister Sturgeon is impressing me greatly with her sound decisions like free distribution of Vitamin D.

[Denzil_DC]

22. Her stock is startlingly high in terms of approval ratings across the whole UK,

according to recent surveys.

She's a serious politician and takes scientific advice seriously, unlike Johnson. Unfortunately, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland's efforts to counter the pandemic have been hampered by Westminster's indecision and malfeasance on matters which aren't devolved.

People are still flying into our major airports without being screened, and the multi-billion-pound contract for a test and trace system Johnson handed out to a useless Tory crony is just the latest example of vast sums that have been wasted on ineffective measures. Coupled with a shortage of medical staff through illness and having chased many of them who were EU citizens away thanks to Brexit, it's a particularly lousy time to get ill.

And now there are predictable problems with the centralization of vaccine supplies and seeming reluctance to let the devolved health services do their job.

Minds were changing here about independence anyway, but this has certainly pushed things along a bit. "Soon" is something I couldn't predict, though. We'd need to get this pandemic under better control first, and there are a lot of legislative hurdles in the way.

[roamer65]

26. Makes me wonder what would happen if she ran for Labour leadership.

I highly doubt it would ever happen, but she damn well could win it for Labour if she did. Labour wouldn’t allow it due to her separatist leanings.

I still think Scottish independence and Irish unification are much more likely.

[Denzil_DC]

39. Labour's woes go far beyond its leadership.

In Scotland, many SNP members and voters (including me) were once Labour Party members and voters. For too long we were taken for granted as a top-up to Labour's total of UK seats (Scotland's Labour vote has only been decisive in a couple of general elections in the last half-century or more) and had to put up with policies more tailored to the choices of the bulk of the population in the south east of England. Devolution and the setting up of the Scottish Parliament gave us more of a voice on a range of matters, but hampered by the powers that are reserved to Westminster. The fact that we're now comfortable voting SNP shows how much that party reflects us and how little Labour does.

Labour in Scotland and the UK as a whole generally sees the SNP as more of an enemy (because it's "stolen" "their" votes) and threat than the Tories. It's not a good look if they're seeking to entice SNP voters to switch back. We're not their property. Given the lack of talent among Labour members of the Scottish Parliament (and its sole Westminster MP in Scotland), it has nothing much relevant to say to us any more. Labour in Scotland is yet again embarking on what has become its monotonously regular leadership contest. The constant low-key and often higher-key infighting is a major turnoff.

[roamer65]

42. Very interesting read and perspective. Thank you.

Reinforces my belief that NI and Scotland will be out of the U.K. within the next few years. Only way...maybe..to keep Scotland around is more devolution. Devolution that allows it full EU membership and more control over its internal and foreign affairs.

[cannabis_flower]

27. Been taking vitamin D for years

Since my doctor told me I was deficient. I used to get bronchitis and asthma all the time. After starting D I haven’t been to the doctor for either in years. Even without Covid I would be taking it.

[LeftInTX]

33. It seems like it could be like hydroxychloroquine.

Both this med and hydroxychloroquine treat similar conditions. Both treat auto-immune disorders.

[abqtommy]

13. Thanks! I went to the link then on to a search of dosage information. Yes, it's a low dose and

there are risks but no more than other medication I've used. There is a caution to avoid using grapefruit or its juice while using colchicine, the same as for some psychiatric meds.

link to usage information:

https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/colchicine-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20067653

[ismnotwasm]

14. It's gout medication

[msongs]

18. Dr. Trump recommends this does he? nt

[applegrove]

21. It was on CTV which is a serious canadian news program. They interviewed

several doctors. It is early days yet. We need hope. Don't sink it by attaching it to Trump. Why do that?

[roamer65]

19. Colchicine affects cellular mitosis.

I used it to induce mitotic aberrations in plants in college botany labs. It interferes with cell division by inhibiting the formation of mitotic spindles.

It behaves the same way in animal cells.

[Gilbert Moore]

29. Pass

Not a hard pass though.

This result obtained for the global study population of 4488 patients approached statistical significance.

[Wounded Bear]

40. Self medicating with off use drugs is dangerous...

Just sayin'

I won't be trying this.

[applegrove]

43. I told no body to self medicate. The fact is you need a prescription.

My point about it being in pharmacies is that it is available all over the world right now for those who get prescribed it. Of course it needs to be published, peer reviewed and approved for off label use. Then you need a prescription but only after being diagnosed with covid.

[GusBob]

41. Cheap? I paid 192 for 20 pills. And toxic as fuck

I took it improperly by accident and after 2 days almost died. My mistake

No way

[applegrove]

44. Yes there are bad side effects. Glad you are sharing.